Designation: A 368 – 95a (Reapproved 2004)
Standard Specification for
Stainless Steel Wire Strand1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 368; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers stainless steel wire strand
composed of a multiplicity of round wires and suitable for use
as guy wires, overhead ground wires, and similar purposes.
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as the standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2
A 555/A 555M Specification for General Requirements for
Stainless Steel Wire and Wire Rods
A 751 Test Methods, Practices, and Terminology for
Chemical Analysis of Steel Products
3. Ordering Information
3.1 It is the responsibility of the purchaser to specify all
requirements that are necessary for material ordered under this
specification. Such requirements may include, but are not
limited to, the following:
3.1.1 Quantity (length of strand or weight of quantity
ordered, or both; see 13.1 and Table 1),
3.1.2 Name of material (stainless steel),
3.1.3 Form (wire strand in coils or on reels),
3.1.4 Applicable dimensions (for nominal strand diameter,
see Table 1),
3.1.5 Number of wires per strand (Table 1),
3.1.6 Minimum breaking strength (medium or high
strength),
3.1.7 Type designation (see Section 7),
3.1.8 ASTM designation, and date of issue, and
3.1.9 Special requirements, if any.
NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 1000 ft, stainless
steel 7-wire strand, 7⁄16-in. diameter, medium strength, on reel, Type 302,
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
Stainless Steel and Related Alloys, and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
A01.17 on Flat-Rolled and Wrought Stainless Steel.
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2004. Published September 2004. Originally
approved in 1953. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as A 368 – 95a (2000).
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
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ASTM A 368 dated _____.
4. General Requirements for Delivery
4.1 In addition to the requirements of this specification, all
requirements of the current edition of Specification A 555/
A 555M shall apply. Failure to comply with the general
requirements of Specification A 555/A 555M constitutes non-
conformance with this specification.
5. Stranding
5.1 Three-wire strand shall have a left lay with a uniform
pitch of not less than 10 nor more than 16 times the nominal
diameter of the strand. Seven-wire strand and the outer layer of
19-wire strand, shall have a left lay with a uniform pitch of not
less than 12 nor more than 16 times the nominal diameter of the
strand. A left lay is defined as a counter-clockwise twist away
from the observer. All wires shall be stranded with uniform
tension. Stranding shall be sufficiently close to ensure no
appreciable reduction in diameter when stressed to 10 % of the
specified strength.
5.2 All wires in the strand shall lie naturally in their true
positions in the completed strand, and when the strand is cut,
the ends shall remain in position or be readily replaced by hand
and then remain in position. This may be accomplished by any
means or process, such as preforming, post forming, or form
setting.
6. Joints
6.1 There shall be no strand joints or strand splices in any
length of the completed strand.
6.2 In 3-wire strand, there shall be no joints in the individual
wires.
6.3 In 7-wire strand, joints in individual wires shall be
acceptable provided there is not more than one joint in any
150-ft (46-m) section of the completed strand and the location
of each wire joint is marked on the strand with paint or some
other distinguishing mark.
6.4 In 19-wire strand, joints in the individual wires of the
outer layer of 12 wires shall be acceptable provided there is not
more than one joint in any 150-ft (46-m) section and the
location of each wire joint is marked on the strand with paint
or some other distinguishing mark. Joints in the 7-wire inner
 A 368 – 95a (2004)
TABLE 1 Mechanical Properties of Stainless Steel Wire Strand
Nominal Diameter Approximate Weight of Minimum Breaking Strength of Strand, lbf (kN)
Number of Wires Nominal Diameter
of Strand, Strand per 1000 ft
in Strand of Stainless Wires, in. (mm) Medium Strength High Strength
in. (mm) (304.80 m), lb (kg)
⁄
13 64 (5.16) 3 0.093 (2.36) 72 (32.66) 3 150 (14.01) 4 500 (20.02)
⁄
7 32 (5.56) 3 0.104 (2.64) 90 (40.82) 3 950 (17.57) 5 650 (25.13)
1⁄4 (6.35) 3 0.120 (3.05) 120 (54.43) 5 300 (23.58) 7 550 (33.58)
5⁄16 (7.94) 3 0.145 (3.68) 175 (79.38) 7 700 (34.25) 11 000 (48.93)
3⁄8 (9.52) 3 0.165 (4.19) 225 (102.06) 10 000 (44.48) 14 300 (63.61)
7⁄32 (5.56) 7 0.072 (1.83) 100 (45.36) 4 500 (20.02) 6 300 (28.02)
1⁄4 (6.35) 7 0.083 (2.11) 132 (59.87) 5 950 (26.47) 8 500 (37.81)
9⁄32 (7.14) 7 0.093 (2.36) 167 (75.75) 7 350 (32.69) 10 500 (46.71)
5⁄16 (7.94) 7 0.104 (2.64) 208 (94.35) 9 200 (40.92) 13 200 (58.72)
3⁄8 (9.52) 7 0.120 (3.05) 278 (126.10) 12 500 (55.60) 18 000 (80.07)
7⁄16 (11.11) 7 0.145 (3.68) 405 (183.71) 18 200 (80.96) 26 000 (115.65)
1⁄2 (12.70) 7 0.165 (4.19) 525 (238.14) 23 600 (104.98) 33 700 (149.90)
3⁄8 (9.52) 19 0.075 (1.90) 295 (133.81) 11 800 (52.49) 16 800 (74.73)
7⁄16 (11.11) 19 0.087 (2.21) 400 (181.44) 15 800 (70.28) 22 500 (100.08)
1⁄2 (12.70) 19 0.100 (2.54) 530 (240.40) 21 000 (93.41) 30 000 (133.45)
9⁄16 (14.29) 19 0.110 (2.79) 640 (290.30) 25 400 (112.98) 36 200 (161.02)
5⁄8 (15.88) 19 0.125 (3.18) 825 (374.21) 33 000 (146.79) 47 000 (209.07)
3⁄4 (19.05) 19 0.150 (3.81) 1,190 (539.78) 47 500 (211.29) 67 500 (300.25)
7⁄8 (22.22) 19 0.175 (4.44) 1,620 (734.82) 64 000 (284.69) 91 400 (406.57)

layer of 19-wire strand shall be acceptable provided there is not
more than one joint in any 150-ft section.
6.5 Joints in the individual wires shall be flash or upset
butt-welded. Care shall be taken to prevent injury to the wire
during welding.
7. Chemical Composition
7.1 The steel shall be Type 302, 304, 305, 316, 316Cb, or
316Ti and shall conform to the requirements as to chemical
composition specified in Table 2.
7.2 Methods and practices relating to chemical analysis
required by this specification shall be in accordance with Test
Methods, Practices, and Terminology A 751.
8. Mechanical Requirements
8.1 The tensile strength requirements, based upon the nomi-
nal strand diameter and the number of wires in each strand,
shall conform to the requirements specified in Table 1. All
tension tests shall be made upon lengths of strand that do not
contain welds in the individual wires.
8.2 The individual wires of the completed strand shall not
fracture when wrapped in a close helix of at least two turns
upon itself as a mandrel at a rate not exceeding 15 turns/min.
9. Dimensions, Mass, and Permissible Variations
9.1 The nominal diameter of the finished strand and of the
individual wires, the number of wires per strand, and the
approximate weight per 1000 ft (or per 304.80 m) of strand are
shown in Table 1.
9.2 The diameter of the individual wires forming the strand
shall not vary from the nominal wire diameters by more than
60.001 in. (60.025 mm).
10. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
10.1 The finished strand shall be tight, smooth, and free of
imperfections not consistent with good commercial practice.
10.2 The diameter of the finished strand shall be uniform,
except for a minor increase in diameter due to a wire joint.
11. Sampling
11.1 Sampling for determination of compliance to this
specification shall be performed on each lot of completed
strand. A lot shall consist of all strand of one size (nominal
strand diameter, nominal wire diameter, and number of wires
per strand) and grade in each shipment.

TABLE 2 Chemical Requirements

Composition, %
UNS Carbon, Manga- Phos- Sulfur, Silicon, Chromium Nickel Other Elements
Type Nitrogen,
Designation max nese, phorus, max max Molybdenum
max
max max
S30200 302 0.15 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.00–19.00 8.00–10.00 ... 0.10 ...
S30400 304 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 18.00–20.00 8.00–10.50 ... 0.10 ...
S30500 305 0.12 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 17.00–19.00 10.50–13.00 ... ... ...
S31600 316 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.00–18.00 10.00–14.00 2.00–3.00 0.10 ...
S31635 316Ti 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.00–18.00 10.00–14.00 2.00–3.00 0.10 Ti 53(C+N) min,
0.70 max
S31640 316Cb 0.08 2.00 0.045 0.030 1.00 16.00–18.00 10.00–14.00 2.00–3.00 0.10 (Cb+Ta) 103C min,
1.10 max

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12. Number of Tests and Retests
12.1 The number of samples tested shall be as follows:
Lot Size
Up to 500 ft (152 m), incl
Over 500 to 5000 ft (152 to 1524 m), incl
Over 5000 to 10 000 ft (1524 to 3048 m), inclA
Over 10 000 ft (3048 m)A
A
When a lot consists of only one reel, tests must be of necessity be limited to
two in number (one from each end).
12.1.1 Each strand sample shall be subjected to the tension
test as specified in 8.1.
12.1.2 In addition to the strand testing specified in 12.1.1,
the individual wires shall be subjected to the wrapping test
specified in 8.2. The number of individual wires to be tested
from each strand shall be as follows:
3-wire strand: test all 3 wires
7-wire strand: test any 4 wires
19-wire strand: test 3 wires from each layer (inner and outer layer),
for a total of 6 tests
12.2 In case of reasonable doubt in the first tests as to the
failure of the wire or strand to meet any requirement of this
specification, two additional tests shall be made on samples of
wire or strand from the same coil (or reel). If failure occurs in
either of these tests, the lot shall be rejected. However, the
A 368 – 95a (2004)
producer may, at his option, requalify individual coils (or reels)
by performing the required tests on an individual coil (or reel)
basis.
No. of
Tests 13. Packaging and Marking
1 13.1 Wire strand shall be furnished in standard lengths (see
2 13.1.1) and in compact coils or on reels (see 13.1.2) as
3
4 specified by the purchaser; otherwise lengths shall be as agreed
upon at the time of purchase.
13.1.1 Standard lengths of strand are as follows: 100 ft
(30.48 m), 250 ft (76.2 m), 500 ft (152.40 m), 1000 ft (304.80
m), 2500 ft (762.00 m), and 5000 ft (1524.00 m).
13.1.2 Standard practice is to furnish all strand of 7⁄16 in.
(11.11 mm) and over in diameter on reels in lengths of 1000 ft
(304.80 m) and over. Strand lengths of less than 1000 ft are
regularly furnished in coils.
13.2 The strand shall be protected against damage in ordi-
nary handling and shipping as agreed upon at the time of
purchase. Each coil (or reel) shall have a strong weather-proof
tag securely fastened to it showing the minimum breaking
strength, the nominal diameter of the strand, the length of the
strand, the steel type designation, ASTM Designation A 368
dated _____, and the name or mark of the manufacturer.
14. Keywords
14.1 stainless steel; wire strand

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